New Rx Approvals

FDA approves several new drugs to treat a variety of conditions

(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five medications in the last month.

The FDA approved these medications to treat various conditions, ranging from a rare blood disorder to cystic fibrosis.

1) Adakveo

Starting things off, Adakveo (crizanlizumab-tmca) was approved to treat a common complication of sickle cell disease, which is an inherited blood disorder. This medication is available as an injection to be administered into the vein. The FDA granted this approval to Novartis.

2) Fetroja

Another recent approval was for Fetroja (cefiderocol). It's an antibiotic approved to treat complicated urinary tract infections in adults who have limited treatment options. This medication, from Shionogi & Co., Ltd., is available as an injection to be administered into the vein.

3) Brukinsa

Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) was approved to treat mantle cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in adults. It is available in capsule form. This medication's approval was granted to BeiGene USA Inc.

4) Reblozyl

Another medication that was approved recently is Reblozyl (luspatercept–aamt). The FDA approved it to treat anemia (lack of red blood cells) (beta thalassemia) in adults who need regular red blood cell transfusions. This medication is available as an injection to be administered under the fatty layer of the skin. This medication's approval was granted to Celgene Corporation.

5) Trikafta

Trikafta (elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor) was approved to treat those with the most common cystic fibrosis mutation. This medication is available in tablet form. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was granted approval for this drug.

Speak with your health care provider if you have any questions about any of these new drug approvals.

Written by Anyssa Garza, PharmD, BCMAS

Citation: 
US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA approves first targeted therapy to treat patients with painful complication of sickle cell disease" US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA approves new antibacterial drug to treat complicated urinary tract infections as part of ongoing efforts to address antimicrobial resistance" US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA approves therapy to treat patients with relapsed and refractory mantle cell lymphoma supported by clinical trial results showing high response rate of tumor shrinkage" US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA approves first therapy to treat patients with rare blood disorder" US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA approves new breakthrough therapy for cystic fibrosis" Adakveo, "ADAKVEO is the first and only FDA-approved, once-monthly medication to reduce the number of pain crises in sickle cell disease*" Shinogi Inc., "FETROJA® (cefiderocol) Approved by the FDA for Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI) in Adult Patients with Limited or No Alternative Treatment Options" Trikafta US Food and Drug Administration, "Reblozyl. [Prescribing Information]. Celgene Corporation. Summit, NJ. 2019" Image Courtesy of Suthisa Kaewkajang | Dreamstime